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[3830] IARU K0DXC(@K1LZ) SO CW HP

To: 3830@contesting.com, k0dxc@yahoo.com
Subject: [3830] IARU K0DXC(@K1LZ) SO CW HP
From: webform@b41h.net
Reply-to: k0dxc@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 12 Jul 2010 00:07:29 -0700
List-post: <3830@contesting.com">mailto:3830@contesting.com>
                    IARU HF World Championship

Call: K0DXC
Operator(s): K0DXC
Station: K1LZ

Class: SO CW HP
QTH: MA
Operating Time (hrs): 24
Radios: SO2R

Summary:
 Band  CW Qs  Ph Qs  Zones  HQ Mults
-------------------------------------
  160:    15            4        2
   80:    51            9       16
   40:   524           27       27
   20:  1113           33       33
   15:   247           21       27
   10:    23            7        5
-------------------------------------
Total:  1973    0     101      110  Total Score = 1,597,481

Club: Worldwide Young Contesters

Comments:

That was my first ever serious single-op contest. It was also my first time with
SO2R.

There is so much I want to say right now... But I haven't actually slept for
over 48 hours (couldn't sleep the night before the contest), so I'm not really
thinking straight right now, and I have a bad feeling that if I try to type
something up it won't make any sense. Bear with me!

The rate was good for the first 5 hours of the contest. Unfortunately, then a
storm hit the Boston area and completely killed the bands as soon as I started
thinking of at least 2,500 QSOs. For the next 3 hours, all the bands were
literally shut down. Everyone became ESP, and static crashes (I'm talking about
on 20, 15, and 10) took out all the stations. It was ridiculous.  Another 3
hours after that and the bands started to get better - the rate shot back up
over 100... But I think it's very pathetic that I didn't even break the 2,000 Q
mark.

Overall conditions on the low bands weren't very good, but I didn't care.

I screwed myself by not knowing strategy. I messed up so many times with
propagation that it's not even funny. That was only my second time ever
operating from the true East Coast, but I still should have done better.

K1LZ has a MONSTER signal on the low bands... I had planned on having big
40-160 numbers no matter what the conditions were like. However, I quit paying
attention to the grayline and I completely missed the 160 EU sunrise, AND most
of the 80 meter one!! By the time I went to 160 and 80 it was already daylight
throughout most of Europe! Gracias to IR2C for being my zone 28 on 160... You
were weak, but thanks for the Q.

80 meters was a little bit better. I missed my shot at running, but I was able
to pick up a few more of the mults. 

My last major mistake, and this one is unacceptable because it's not just
unique to East Coast propagation, is that I didn't realize 20 would be open all
night long. I had planned on leaving 20 when it "got dark outside" and I was too
busy with the second radio trying to frantically pick up lost mults on 80 / 160
so I didn't actually check back on 14 Mhz. I really just wasn't thinking,
because pole propagation on 20 late at night / early AM is one thing I actually
know in regards to propagation! I wasted 3 or 4 hours CQing on 80 and a
not-very-productive 40 before I realized there were some juicy VK / ZL /
pacific mults to be found back on 20!

Throughout the contest I got many reports of bad keying, clicks, mushy sounds,
etc coming from my run radio.. I figured that the "clicks" couldn't be that
bad, because I had some nice pileups, and the radio I was using WAS A BRAND NEW
FT-5000 DX.... Not even more than a couple months old!!! How could Yaesu's baby
have such a defect?

Anyways, after the contest I got an email from someone with an audio recording
of my keying. Let's just say that after listening to that recording, I am
completely SHOCKED. For the entire 24 hours my running sounded like absolute
crap. Honestly, it pissed me off. The entire exchange was mushed together as
one big "dah", and so was the "test" on my CQ. No offense to Yaesu's latest and
greatest, but I would have thrown that thing straight through the window and
outside onto the street if I knew what it was doing. I can't imagine how much
better my runs would have been if people could have actually copied everything
I was trying to send. The mushed characters probably scared quite a few
would-be QSOs away, too! 

I don't know why, but I just couldn't mentally get into this contest. In the
weeks leading up to it I had big expectations, but when the 'test actually
started I just didn't even care anymore. It was like I was really bored with
contesting. I had no desire to operate. Even when the rate was high I was
questioning myself, "Why am I doing this?" I hate to say this, but I just
haven't been enjoying it lately. I've been really successful and winning in the
past because I've always had the perfect mentality. Now I just don't have the
motivation. What's happening? Aren't I too young to retire?

By the way - For all the guys who try to jam me, and come and visit me on
frequency by sending "LID", "YOU SUCK", and "..." (Wait, not going to repeat
the last few because they're "nasty".)... Don't get excited and actually let
yourselves think that you're getting to me, because I think your poorly fisted
(that means most of you can't even send on a paddle worth crap) insults are
more of a joke than anything. But hey, I appreciate the fact that you guys sure
must like to think about me! You're even ALWAYS there when I get on the air
outside of a contest! Which is not too often, so I feel bad that you must waste
a lot of time looking for me.

It was nice to hear life in 10 meters, and W1AW/8 was the one station I got on
all 6 bands.

SO2R was really fun. Everyone told me there was a fairly steep learning curve,
but I didn't have any trouble with it. I don't find copying multiple signals in
different ears difficult I guess. Now I need to get SO2R equipment at my home
station in Ohio so I can hone my skills for the next one.

HUGE thank you to Krassy, K1LZ for letting me use his amazing station. It was a
good learning experience that I'll use in the future. I'm also very grateful
that he even gave me the opportunity to use my own callsign... While I would
have done a lot better using K1LZ, it was a new experience for me to be "LOUD"
with MY call!

Great job to everyone over at WRTC in Moscow. I didn't chase the R3's around,
but quite a few of them called me. Also, great job to the rest of the stations
in the CW only category. There are some nice scores out there.

I hope to hear you in the next one, which will most likely be CQWW SSB and CW
for me. Nah, I really doubt I'll be using my call then!




VY 73!
Cal, K0DXC

http://k0dxc.com


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